Carboniferous palynology of the Loppa High Barents Sea, Norway

• Main Author: Lindström, Sofie
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Geological Survey of Norway 2003
• Subjects: Geology; Arctic; Barents Sea; Billefjorden; Gipsdalen; Loppa; Norway
• Online Access: https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/288593

Nine palynological intervals, A-I in ascending order, are recognised in the Carboniferous succession of the well 7120/2-1 on the Loppa High in the western Barents Sea. Within the Billefjorden Group intervals A-E are correlated with the early Visean to Serpukhovian Pu to TK Miospore Zones of western Europe. The known sedimentation break between the Billefjorden and Gipsdalen groups occurred in the Serpukhovian, as interval G of the lower part of the Gipsdalen Group is equivalent to the late Serpukhovian SO Miospore Zone. Lycospora pusilla and Densosporites spp. dominate these assemblages, indicating humid conditions. The topmost interval I correlates with early Moscovian palynofloras of the Arctic. It is at the oldest equivalent with the NJ Miospore Zone. Assemblages within this interval are dominated by the monosaccate pollen Florinites and Potonieisporites, with abundant taeniate and non-taeniate bisaccate pollen, indicating deposition under a dry climatic regime.